Knowing just a little about the body’s largest organ can help make a big difference when it comes to maintaining beautiful skin.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And while each person has their own opinion about what or who is beautiful, we find ourselves ina day and age where we inject, nip, tuck, peel, laser and slather on all sorts of chemicals in the name of this undefined “beauty.”

Perhaps we are better served to remember that beauty comes from within, and our efforts should be directed, instead, toward “healthy” skin. A little knowledge and an ounce of prevention can go a long way toward maintaining healthy skin and that fresh-faced look for years to come.

UV exposure, detergents and pollutants cause more than 80 percent of skin damage. Knowing that, you can take a few simple steps to slow down the aging process.

Know the skin you’re in

There are benefits and drawbacks to every skin type. People with lighter skin tend to burn easier and are more sensitive to UV exposure. People with darker skin have more melanin, which protects against UV exposure but blocks the conversion of vitamin D, a very important nutrient for the skin. Understanding your skin type and its various benefits and risk factors will go a long way to providing a lifetime of health and beauty. Schedule an appointment with a dermatologist, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Keep your doctor abreast of all moles and skin discolorations.

It’s also important to know the acidity of your skin. When your skin is acidic, it helps kill bacteria and maintain texture of the skin surface. Your skin’s pH, or measure of acidity, should be between 4.5 and 6. You can test your skin’s acidity with a piece of pH paper after thoroughly cleaning your skin and waiting for an hour.

Treat it from the outside

Once you know a little about your skin, you can begin taking care of it from the outside. Remember that the sun is not evil. Your body needs the sun to process nutrients, prevent depression and kill bacteria and other microbes that can damage your skin. It is important to understand the best times to be exposed to the sun. Exposure in the mornings and late afternoons is usually safer than in the middle of the day. Avoid sun completely on days when there is an ozone watch. Always be sure to limit your exposure and avoid burning the skin.

It is also important to limit contact with chemicals on your skin. Research the ingredients in your makeup and other toiletries as well as all of your household products, especially laundry detergents. Don’t use harsh soaps. They have a pH of around 9, which is the exact opposite of what the skin needs.

To help heal the skin and provide nutrients directly to the surface, try this mask recipe from Dr. John Maher of BioPharma Scientific. Mix one-quarter teaspoon of a greens powder (vegetables and herbs), one-quarter teaspoon of whey protein powder with colostrums and 1 tablespoon of plain organic yogurt. After cleansing and drying your face, generously brush the paste on your face, neck and top of your hands with a facial brush or your fingers. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes and shower off or use a warm towel to wipe it off.

Treat it from the inside

True beauty comes from within, and that goes for the skin, too. Maintaining healthy skin is directly tied to maintaining a healthy digestive system and controlling inflammation in the body. Here are some nutrients that your skin needs to stay beautiful.

Water. Water is the most important ingredient for hydration of skin cells, and it helps give the skin its volume and healthy color. Drink half of your body weight in ounces of pure, clean water every day. For instance, a 130-pound person would drink 65 ounces of water per day, or roughly eight 8-ounce glasses. Carry a non-leaching water bottle with you throughout the day to make it easy.

Vitamin D. Vitamin D is not only for bone health; it also helps maintain the health of the skin by boosting the power of other vitamins and regulating energy production in skin cells. Many people have dangerously low levels of vitamin D and need to supplement with the most active form of vitamin D, called D3.

Gelatin. Gelatin is a form of hydrolyzed collagen that helps maintain healthy skin, hair and nails. You can add a packet of plain gelatin without any food coloring or sugar to any drink or smoothie. (It will also give your smoothie a great texture.)

Healthy fats. You should regularly consume foods containing healthy omega-3 fatty acids such as avocados, fish, flax seeds and olive oil. Every cell in the body is made up of healthy fats, including the skin. Omega-3 fatty acids also help control inflammation that leads to wrinkles and poor skin texture.

Antioxidants. Specific types of vitamins and other nutrients known as antioxidants help to reduce the number of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are created by UV exposure, chemicals, pollutants and even exercise. They are impossible to completely avoid, so they have to be neutralized by antioxidants such as vitamin C, glutathione and superoxide dismutase.

In addition to adding the above nutrients, you should also eliminate certain foods from your diet. Fast food not only adds bad calories, it also destroys your skin. Maintain a healthy diet with good carbs, good fats and good proteins. Sweating is also very important for skin health, so get on that treadmill or try an infrared sauna.

Find out what your skin needs

It was once very difficult to know what nutrients your body was missing. Now there’s a test for more than 30 nutrients and antioxidants in the body called Spectracell. This test will show you exactly what your body needs, and with the guidance of your doctor, you can begin a therapeutic supplementation regimen that can get you back on track. Ask your dermatologist, family doctor or chiropractor about the Spectracell test. It’s a new test, so don’t be surprised if they haven’t heard of it. For a list of doctors that provide this test in their clinic, visit www.SpectraCell.com.

And last, but not least, remember to treat your skin with great respect and care. It’s yours for a lifetime.

This article was written by Dr. Al Jameson is reprinted with the permission of Total Body Magazine. To view this article in the full magazine, click here.